06/25/2026
It's unwise to ignore your wisdom teeth. When a tooth doesn't fully grow in, it becomes "impacted" - unable to break through the gums because there isn't enough room.
An impacted wisdom tooth can damage neighboring teeth or become infected. Because it's in an area that’s hard to clean, it can also invite bacteria that lead to gum disease.
What does it mean to have an impacted wisdom tooth? We’ll explain what an impacted wisdom tooth is and how it’s treated.